Recent Water Supply Interruptions in Fez and Meknes
Residents of the cities of Fez and Meknes have recently experienced significant disruptions in their drinking water supply due to a sudden malfunction in the water supply canal originating from the treatment station linked to the Idriss I dam. This incident resulted in the cessation of water distribution to several neighborhoods, causing widespread concern among the local population. According to data released by the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water, specifically the water sector, the repair work on the damaged canal has been completed, and water supply will be gradually restored across the affected areas. This restoration process will follow a pace that allows for the normal functioning of the network to be reinstated.
Understanding the Cause of the Water Supply Issue
In an explanation of the incident's causes, Mustapha Al-Aisat, an expert in environmental sustainability and climate, as well as the director of the International Center for Strategic Studies and Development Training (SNEVICO), stated in an interview with "Alyaoum 24" that the malfunction was not related to mechanical or electrical failures as some might assume. Instead, it primarily stemmed from a ground subsidence that occurred near the national road connecting Fez and Taounate. This subsidence caused significant damage to the main canal responsible for transporting treated water from the Idriss I dam to the cities of Fez and Meknes, necessitating an emergency halt in production at this vital facility. Al-Aisat emphasized that, while such incidents are rare, they can occur in major water facilities, particularly when pipelines traverse areas with geological vulnerabilities or are situated alongside heavily trafficked roads.
He also pointed out that ground subsidence can be caused by various factors, including underground water leakages, ongoing vibrations from traffic, and the impacts of climate change on soil stability and cohesion. The water conveyance facility from the Idriss I dam represents a crucial artery for supplying both cities with drinking water, which explains the magnitude of the disruption caused by the malfunction.
Repair efforts involved replacing a substantial section of the damaged canal with a massive steel pipe that has a diameter of 1600 mm. Al-Aisat noted that the absence of a parallel alternative canal capable of accommodating the same flow volume made the suspension of pumping inevitable until the repair work was completed. Following the identification of the malfunction, the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water initiated repair operations promptly. These efforts included removing the damaged section, installing the new pipe, and subjecting it to necessary technical tests before resuming operations.
Al-Aisat regarded the completion of these repairs within a timeframe of three to four days as a significant technical achievement, given the complexity and scale of the interventions required. He highlighted that fixing similar issues in major conveyance pipelines can sometimes take more than a week. However, the interruption led to widespread dissatisfaction among residents, particularly in neighborhoods that experienced a complete water outage. One resident from the Narjis neighborhood in Fez expressed her frustration over the situation, noting that many families were compelled to seek alternative water sources, whether by traveling to other neighborhoods to fill containers or purchasing bottled water.
She explained that the high demand for bottled water resulted in shortages at various stores, adding that scenes of citizens transporting barrels and containers in search of water became commonplace during the outage. Some shops experienced notable overcrowding due to the increased demand for drinking water, while shop owners had to contact distributors to secure additional supplies after their stock was depleted. The community was caught off guard by the disruption, feeling unprepared for such an event. The lack of prior notice hindered residents from taking essential precautions and stocking up on water to meet their daily needs.
As reported by alyaoum24.com.
